JP2004131073A - Air-conditioner for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air-conditioner for vehicle which easily delivers a specified air component such as a fragrant component to occupants regardless of the selection of a blow-out port from among a face blow-out port, a defroster blow-out port or a foot blow-out port as a blowing air blow-out port. <P>SOLUTION: An air component generator 43 of the fragrant component or the like is provided in vicinities of blow-out ports 31a, 33a and 35a of a blowing air duct 13. Even when a user selects the foot blow-out port 35a as the blowing air blow-out port by an inputting means 41, a face damper 31b is intermittently or temporarily opened by controlling a motor 37 by a control circuit 39. Thus, this air-conditioner 11 for vehicle is constituted in such a manner that the fragrant component or the like which is fed from the air component generator 43 may be fed from the face blow-out port 31a as well. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention relates to an air conditioner for a vehicle that supplies an aromatic component or an ionic component to a vehicle interior, and is particularly applied to an air conditioner for a vehicle having a plurality of outlets.

In general, an air conditioner 1 for a vehicle such as an automobile, as shown in FIG. 1, has a face outlet 3 (or a vent outlet) that blows air to the face of an occupant, a defroster outlet 5 that blows windshield, and a blower to the feet of the occupant. It has a plurality of air outlets like a foot air outlet 7. 2. Description of the Related Art Some conventional air conditioners for vehicles use an air conditioning duct to supply an aromatic component of a volatile fragrance from a plurality of outlets into a vehicle interior. Among them, a fragrance component supply means for supplying the fragrance component into the air duct, and a communication path communicating the supply means and the air duct are provided, and one opening of the communication path is provided downstream of the blower, and Is provided upstream of an outlet damper that opens and closes a plurality of outlets, and even if a mode is selected from among the plurality of outlets to blow air, an aromatic component is supplied from the outlet. There is one that can be used (for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, attention has been paid to the effect of negative ions in the air, and a vehicle air conditioner equipped with a negative ion generator has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 2). According to this, an increase in negative ions in the air is considered to affect, for example, the autonomic nervous system and contribute to emotional stability.

Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 832126 (paragraph numbers [0006]-[0013], FIG. 1) JP-A-9-317141 (paragraph numbers [0020]-[0028], FIG. 1)

However, according to the vehicle air conditioner of Patent Literature 1, since the supply of the fragrance component is similarly performed from any outlet, for example, the air mode of the air conditioner does not blow air to the occupant's face like the foot air outlet 7. Direction, and the installation location itself is selected to use only the air outlet away from the occupant's face, it is difficult for the fragrance component to reach the occupant's nose, There is a problem that it becomes difficult to sense. In general, the air outlet of the air conditioner is controlled so that the air is blown from the face air outlet 3 when the vehicle interior is cooled, and from the foot air outlet 7 when it is desired to warm the vehicle interior. The air is frequently blown, and in that case, even if the above-described fragrance component supply means is provided, it will not be effectively used.

Therefore, in the present invention, even when the air-conditioning apparatus is selected to blow air from the air outlet, which is difficult to reach the nose of the occupant, such as the foot air outlet, the fragrance component and the negative ion component are selected. It is an object of the present invention to realize a vehicle air conditioner that can deliver such information to a passenger's nose.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an aromatic component or a negative ion component such as a foot outlet is blown from the second outlet which is difficult to reach the occupant's nose, and a face outlet or a defroster outlet. When the air conditioning mode of the air conditioner is selected so that the component is not blown from the first air outlet that easily reaches the occupant's nose, air is blown from the second air outlet that is hard to reach the occupant's nose, The air is also blown from the first outlet which is easy to reach, whereby even if the air blowing mode of the air conditioner is selected so that the air blows from the second air outlet which does not easily reach the nose of the occupant, the air blows the above components. It can be delivered to the occupant's nose.

In addition, if the fragrance component is continuously output, the occupant's sense of smell becomes accustomed to the fragrance. Therefore, in the first aspect of the present invention, the ventilation through the first air outlet through which the fragrance component and the like easily reach the nose of the occupant is intermittent. The occupants can easily perceive the fragrance component.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the component such as the face air outlet or the defroster air outlet always reaches the occupant's nose easily from the first air outlet regardless of the selection of the air supply mode of the air conditioner. It is blown. This makes it possible to deliver the component to the occupant's nose even when the air-conditioning device's air blowing mode is selected so that air is blown from the second air outlet that is difficult to reach the occupant's nose, such as a foot air outlet. .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, even when the air supply mode of the air conditioner is selected such that the air is blown from the second air outlet where the component hardly reaches the occupant's nose, the component is applied to the occupant's nose. Can be delivered.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, even when the air supply mode of the air conditioner is selected so that air is blown from the second air outlet which is hard to reach the occupant's nose, such as a foot air outlet, the occupant is allowed to carry out the component. Can be delivered to the nose.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention having three outlets as a plurality of outlets, a face outlet, a defroster outlet, and a foot outlet. The vehicle air conditioner 11 to which the present embodiment is applied includes a blower duct 13 that guides blown air into a vehicle interior, a blower 15 that generates an airflow in the blower duct 13 toward the vehicle interior, and a blower duct 13 arranged in the blower duct 13. Evaporator 17 and heater core 19 are provided.

The air duct 13 is provided with an inside air introduction port 21 for taking in the vehicle interior air and an outside air introduction port 23 for taking in the outside air of the vehicle interior. The inside air introduction port 21 and the outside air introduction port 23 are connected to the selected inside / outside air. It is opened and closed by a suction port switching damper 25 that operates according to the mode. The blower 15 includes a centrifugal fan 15a and a fan motor 15b that rotates the fan 15a, and blows air sucked through the filter 27. The blower 15 varies the amount of air blow according to the voltage value applied to the fan motor 15b. The evaporator 17 cools the air sent from the blower 15.

The heater core 19 heats air passing through the engine cooling water as a heat source. The amount of air passing through the heater core 19 is adjusted by the air mix damper 29. At a downstream end of the air duct 13, a plurality of outlets (a face outlet 31 a, a defroster outlet 33 a, and a foot outlet 35 a) opened at various places in the vehicle compartment, and respective outlet dampers (face dampers) for opening and closing the respective outlets. 31b, a defroster damper 33b, and a foot damper 35b). The opening and closing operation of each outlet damper is performed by a motor 37.

The vehicle air conditioner 11 includes a control circuit 39, and the control circuit 39 controls the blower 15 to adjust the air volume. Further, the control circuit 39 controls the motor 37 to open and close the air outlet for blowing according to the selection made by the input means 41 such as a push button switch for selecting and inputting the air outlet for air blowing. Further, the control circuit 39 opens and closes the suction port using the suction port switching damper 25, and opens and closes the air mix damper 29 according to information on the set temperature of a temperature sensor (not shown) and an operation switch (not shown). Adjust the temperature.

(4) The vehicle air conditioner 11 further includes an air component generator 43 that supplies a predetermined gas component such as an aromatic component or a negative ion component to the air in the air duct in front of the air outlet. Thus, the component supplied from the air component generator 43 rides on the wind from the blower and is also supplied into the vehicle compartment from any one of the outlets.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an aroma generator used as the air component generator 43. The fragrance generator 43 includes a fragrance container 51 containing an fragrance component therein, a solenoid (electromagnet) 53 provided above the opening of the container 51, a rod 55 vertically supported and driven by the solenoid 53, It comprises a lid 57 of the container 51 provided at the lower end of the rod 55, and a coil spring 59 inserted between the solenoid 53 and the lid 57. The lid 57 can open and close the opening of the container 51 and is urged downward by a coil spring 59. The solenoid 53 is energized by a control signal from the control circuit 39, whereby the lid 57 opens the opening of the container 51, and the fragrance evaporates and mixes with the air in the air duct 13.

Also, if the fragrance is continuously output, the occupant's sense of smell becomes accustomed to the fragrance. Therefore, the control circuit 39 controls the solenoid 53 to intermittently turn on and off, thereby generating the fragrance intermittently. This makes it easier for the occupants to feel the fragrance.

When an ion generator is used as the air component generator 43, for example, an electron emission type negative ion generator for generating negative ions by discharging from a negative electrode on an electronic circuit having a pulse generating circuit and the like, as well as cluster ion generation It is conceivable that various ion generators such as a vessel may be used. The generation and stop of the ions of these ion generators are also controlled by the control circuit 39, and the on / off control is intermittently performed as in the case of the fragrance generator.

In addition, the air component generator 43 may supply a gas component that inactivates the hay fever antigen. The gas component that inactivates the hay fever antigen can be generated by spraying and evaporating an antiallergic drug such as a steroid drug or an antihistamine drug. It is also conceivable that it may not be preferable to inhale such a drug to other passengers on board. Therefore, the gas component that inactivates the hay fever antigen may be the above-mentioned negative ion component or an air component containing so-called nanoe ions, which are fine particles wrapped in highly reactive OH radical fine particle water. desirable.

In addition, the air component generator 43 includes so-called disinfecting ions and plasma cluster ions (trademark) composed of positive ions in which a plurality of water molecules surround hydrogen ions and negative ions in which the plurality of water molecules surround oxygen ions. A gas component may be supplied.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the vehicle air conditioner 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Here, as an example, the operation in the case where the foot outlet 35a is an outlet in which the fragrance component and the negative ion component are difficult to reach the occupant's nose, and the face outlet 31a is an outlet in which the component easily reaches the occupant's nose. Is shown.

The occupant selects the outlet to be blown by the input means 41 (step S73). If the selected outlet is not the foot outlet 35a that makes it difficult to deliver the component to the occupant's nose, that is, if it is the face outlet 31a or the defroster outlet 33a (steps S75 and S77), the control circuit 39 controls the motor 37. Then, the face damper 31b and the defroster bumper 33b are opened, the dampers of the other unselected outlets are closed, and the air is blown only from the respectively selected outlet. The same applies to the case where air is simultaneously blown from both the face outlet 31a and the defroster outlet 33a (S81).

If the selected outlet is only the foot outlet 35a, the control circuit 39 controls the motor 37 to open the foot damper 35b, closes the face damper 31b and the defroster bumper 33b, and blows air only from the foot outlet 35a. Perform (S79). Thereafter, the control circuit 39 controls the motor 37 to open the face damper 31b intermittently or temporarily, and also blows air from the face outlet 31a (S87). At this time, the control circuit 39 opens and closes the face damper 31b in conjunction with the on-off operation of the air component generator 43 described above.

(4) When the simultaneous blowing from both the face outlet 31a and the foot outlet 35a is selected, the intermittent or temporary opening and closing operation of the face damper 31b as described above is unnecessary. Therefore, the control circuit 39 controls the motor 37, opens the face damper 31b and the foot damper 35b, closes the defroster damper 33b, and blows air from the face outlet 31a and the foot outlet 35a (S83).

When it is selected to simultaneously blow air from both the defroster outlet 33a and the foot outlet 35a, the control circuit 39 controls the motor 37 to open the defroster bumper 33b and the foot damper 35b, closes the face damper 31b, and temporarily closes the defroster 31b. Air is blown from the outlet 31a and the foot outlet 35a, respectively (S85). Thereafter, the control circuit 39 controls the motor 37 to open the face damper 31b intermittently or temporarily, and also blows air from the face outlet 31a (S87). At this time, the control circuit 39 opens and closes the face damper 31b in conjunction with the on-off operation of the air component generator 43 described above.

(4) When the face outlet 31a is not selected as the blower outlet, the supply amount of the component is reduced because the component is supplied only intermittently or temporarily. Therefore, in such a case, the supply amount of the component is adjusted based on which outlet is selected as the blowing outlet by a method such as increasing the supply amount of the component from the air component generator 43. Preferably, a control circuit 39 is provided.

FIG. 4 shows the operation of the vehicle air conditioner 11 in a case where the face air outlet 31a is used as the air outlet where the fragrance component and the negative ion component can easily reach the occupant's nose, but the defroster air outlet is used instead of the face air outlet 31a. It is clear that 33a can be used.

Further, an air component generator switch may be provided in the input means 41, and when the occupant intends to supply an air component including a fragrance component and a negative ion component into the vehicle, the switch may be turned on. .
Then, when an air outlet such as the foot air outlet 35a, which is difficult to deliver to the occupant's nose, is selected as the blowing air outlet, the air outlet which is not forcibly delivered to the occupant's nose at regular time intervals. (Face outlet 31a, defroster outlet 33a) may be blown.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the vehicle air conditioner 11.

In step S121, when the occupant intends to supply the air component with the fragrance component or the negative ion component into the vehicle, the air component generator switch provided on the input means 41 is turned on. Thus, in step S122, the control circuit 39 operates the air component generator 43 to generate an aromatic component and a negative ion component.

At this time, the control circuit 39 forcibly switches the blowing mode in step S123 when a blowing port, such as the foot blowing port 35a, which is difficult to deliver a predetermined air component to the passenger's nose is selected as the blowing blowing port. For example, the mode is switched to a blowing mode (for example, a face mode) in which the air component is not easily delivered to the occupant's nose.
That is, the control circuit 39 controls the motor 37 to close the foot damper 35b, open the face damper 31b, and blow air from the face outlet 31a. This forced face mode state is continued for a first predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) (step S124). The control circuit 39 has a timing means (not shown) (not shown) for measuring an elapsed time after the air component generator switch is turned on.

When the control circuit 39 determines that the first predetermined time has elapsed since the air component generator switch was turned on (S124), it returns the blowing mode to a normal state in step S125. That is, when the foot mode is selected as described above, the face damper 31b is closed, the foot damper 35b is opened, and air is blown from the foot outlet 35a.
This normal blowing mode state is continued for a second predetermined time (for example, one minute) (step S126). The control circuit 39 measures the elapsed time from the normal blowing mode state by the timing means.

As described above, the reason why the blow-out mode is returned to the normal blow-out mode state at regular time intervals is that it is difficult to deliver a predetermined air component to the nose of the occupant when performing air adjustment by the vehicle air conditioner. This is to cope with the case where (for example, the foot outlet 35a) is selected.

That is, for example, when heating is performed, warm air is often blown from an outlet such as the foot outlet 35a that does not directly blow on the face of the occupant. Further, when the predetermined air component and the warm air are blown together, the effect of the predetermined air component is reduced. Therefore, the air conditioner 11 for the vehicle is provided at least while the air component generator switch is ON. It is desirable not to blow warm air from the outlet for blowing the predetermined air component.
For this reason, if the forced face mode state is continuously maintained while the air component generator switch is in the ON state, the interior of the vehicle will not be heated. Need to return to the state.

In this connection, the vehicle air conditioner 11 prevents the air heated by the heater core 19 from being sent to the outlet for blowing the predetermined air component while the air component generator switch is in the ON state. It is desirable to provide a damper for the purpose.

When the occupant turns off the air component generator switch provided on the input means 41 in step S121, the control circuit 39 stops the air component generator 43 in step S127, and switches the blowing mode to the normal state in step S128. Then, the process (S122 to S126) forcibly entering the face mode at regular intervals is stopped.

FIG. 5 shows the operation of the vehicle air conditioner 11 in the case where the face air outlet 31a is an air outlet in which the fragrance component and the negative ion component can easily reach the occupant's nose, but the defroster air outlet is used instead of the face air outlet 31a. It is clear that 33a can be used.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present invention when a face air outlet is selected as an air outlet through which a fragrance component and a negative ion component easily reach an occupant's nose. The same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The control circuit 93 controls the blower 15 to adjust the air volume, and controls the motor 37 based on the selection of the input unit 41 to control the air outlet, similar to the control circuit 39 in the first embodiment of the present invention. The air mix damper 29 is opened and closed, and the air mix damper 29 is opened and closed according to information on the set temperature of a temperature sensor (not shown) and an operation switch (not shown) by controlling the suction port switching damper 25 to open and close the suction port. Adjust.

空調 A vehicle air conditioner 91 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes an auxiliary ventilation passage 95 at the face outlet 31a. The auxiliary ventilation path 95 enables air to be blown from the face outlet 31a even when the face damper 31b is closed. Thus, even when an air outlet such as the foot air outlet 35a, which is difficult to reach the nose of the occupant, is selected as the air blowing air outlet, a part of the air blowing is also performed from the face air outlet. Can be delivered to

In the second embodiment, even when the face outlet 31a is not selected as the air outlet, air is blown from the face outlet 31a. Therefore, in a case where a large amount of warm air is blown toward the occupant from the face outlet 31a when the warm air is blown from the foot outlet 35a with a strong air volume in winter or the like, the auxiliary ventilation is performed so that the occupant does not feel uncomfortable. The path 95 is preferably provided to be smaller than the face outlet 31a. Even when the face damper 31b is closed and the air that has passed only through the small auxiliary ventilation path 95 is blown from the face outlet 31a, the air component generator 43 is moved to the face outlet so that the components can sufficiently reach the nose of the occupant. Which outlet is to be provided near the air outlet 31a and / or by increasing the supply amount of the component from the air component generator 43 when the face outlet 31a is not selected as the air outlet. It is preferable to provide the control circuit 93 so as to adjust the supply amount of the component based on whether the component is selected as the wind outlet.

As described above, if the fragrance component is continuously output, the occupant's sense of smell becomes accustomed to the fragrance. Therefore, the control circuit 93 intermittently turns the air component generator 43 on and off similarly to the first embodiment. This makes it easier for the occupants to feel the fragrance.

FIG. 6 illustrates a configuration in a case where the face outlet 31a is selected as an outlet in which the component easily reaches the occupant's nose, but a defroster outlet 33a may be selected instead of the face outlet 31a. It is clear that the configuration can be easily realized with reference to the above description.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle air conditioner according to a third embodiment of the present invention including an oxygen-enriched air generator as an air component generating means for supplying a predetermined gas component. The same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In recent years, it has been proposed to install an oxygen-enriched air generator that supplies oxygen-enriched air with a high oxygen concentration to the vehicle in order to prevent a decrease in the oxygen concentration in the vehicle air and maintain driving comfort. Have been. The vehicle air conditioner of this embodiment facilitates such oxygen-enriched air to reach the passenger's nose.

For this reason, the vehicle air conditioner 11 includes an adsorption tank 101 containing an adsorbent such as zeolite, a compressor 102 that compresses air outside the vehicle compartment and sends the air to the adsorption tank 101, and nitrogen contained by passing through the adsorption tank 101. A communication pipe 103 for guiding the oxygen-enriched air having a reduced concentration and consequently an increased oxygen content to the ventilation duct 13, an electromagnetic valve 104 for opening and closing the communication pipe 103, and a suction tank for compressing air from the compressor 102. An oxygen-enriched air generator including a communication pipe 105 leading to 101 and an electromagnetic valve 106 for opening and closing the communication pipe 105 is provided.

(4) The compressor 102 starts air blowing according to a control signal from the control circuit 39, and the solenoid valves 104 and 106 open the communication pipes 103 and 105 according to the control signal from the control circuit 39. As a result, compressed air is sent into the adsorption tank 101, and the nitrogen concentration is reduced by the adsorbent, and the oxygen-enriched air having an increased oxygen content is supplied into the air duct 13 as the predetermined air component. You.

In the present embodiment, an oxygen-enriched air generator of the type using an adsorption tank containing an adsorbent such as zeolite has been described as an example, but the present invention can be applied to other oxygen-enriched air generators. It is clear that the effect of (1) is obtained.

It is the figure which showed the position of the air outlet in the vehicle air conditioner. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic structure figure of a fragrance generator. It is a flowchart (the 1) explaining operation | movement of the vehicle air conditioner by the 1st Example of this invention. It is a flowchart (the 2) explaining operation | movement of the vehicle air conditioner by the 1st Example of this invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle air conditioner according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of reference numerals

3, 31a: Face outlet 5, 33a: Defroster outlet 7, 35a: Foot outlet 11, 91: Vehicle air conditioner 15: Blower 17: Evaporator 18, Heater core 31b: Face damper 33b: Defroster damper 35b: Foot damper 37 motors 39 and 93 control circuit 41 input means 43 air component generator 95 auxiliary ventilation passage 101 adsorption tank 102 compressor

Claims (9)

Multiple outlets that blow air into the cabin,
An air conditioner for a vehicle, comprising: opening / closing means for selectively opening and closing these air outlets; and gas component supply means for supplying a predetermined gas component to air blown into the vehicle interior from the air outlet,
The plurality of outlets includes at least a first outlet and a second outlet,
The air blown out from the first air outlet is easier to reach the nose of the passenger in the vehicle compartment than the air blown out from the second air outlet,
When the opening / closing means closes the first air outlet and opens the second air outlet, the opening / closing means is controlled so as to open and close the first air outlet intermittently. Vehicle air conditioner. Multiple outlets that blow air into the cabin,
An air conditioner for a vehicle, comprising: opening / closing means for selectively opening and closing these air outlets; and gas component supply means for supplying a predetermined gas component to air blown into the vehicle interior from the air outlet,
The plurality of outlets includes at least a first outlet and a second outlet,
The air blown out from the first air outlet is easier to reach the nose of the passenger in the vehicle compartment than the air blown out from the second air outlet,
The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the first air outlet includes an auxiliary passage through which air can flow even when the first air outlet is closed by the opening / closing means. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the second outlet is a foot outlet. The vehicle air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first air outlet is a face air outlet. The vehicle air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first air outlet is a defroster air outlet. The vehicle air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the gas component is a fragrance component. The vehicle air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the gas component is a negative ion component. 6. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the gas component supply unit is an oxygen-enriched air generation unit. 7. The air conditioner for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the gas component is a hay fever antigen inactivating component.

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